Car seat



Jan. 3, 1933. J J TATUM 1,893,458

CAR SEAT Filed Sept. 8. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 3, 1933.

J. J. TATUM 4 1,893,458

CAR SEAT Filed Sept. 8, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheei 2 gwuzntoc Jan. 3, 1933. I JT M 1,893,458

CAR SEAT Filed Sept. 8, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 3, 1933UNITED STATES JOHN J. TATUM, OF BALTDIORE, MARYLAND CAR SEAT Applicationfiled September This invention relates to improvements in chair seatsfor railway coaches or other coaches or public transportation vehicles,and preferably to coach seats of that type provided with adjustable seatbacks adjustable to different reclining positions, and also preferablyto seats which are rotatably supported so that the seats may be arrangedto face different portions of the car. While the 1nvention may beemployed in connection with a chair comprising a base carrying a singleseat cushion and single adjustable seat back, it is preferred to employthe same in connection with a chair comprising a plurality of individualseat cushions each having its own indivdual adjustable seat back.

The main object of my invention is to provide upon each seat back ahinged table adapted to fold into a recess flush with the surface of theback when not in use, and

adapted to be let down for the use and convenience of a passengeroccupying a seat in rear thereof; and which folding table'is of manifoldor sectional t pe and adapted to be used as a service tabfe on which toserve lunch, as a game table on Which to play games, as awriting orsimilar table, and as a dressing or toilet table on which to placetoilet or dressing articles, in connection with which table a mirror maybe employed and which is arranged for ready and convenient use.

A further object of my invention is to provide a hinged table of thecharacter set :5 forth which may be let down to different degrees andsupported at difierent angular positions with relation to theseat back,so that the table may be always disposed in a truly horizontal or othersuitable position for con- LO venient use, irrespective of the degree ofinclination of the seat back.

With these and other objects in view, myinvention consists of thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of i" parts,hereinafter fully described and 8, 1930. Serial No. 480,547.

claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig.1 is a perspective view showing a portion of the interior of a railroadcoach equipped with seats embodying my invenso tion, and illustratingthe use of the table attachment.

Fig. 2 is a View in front elevation of one of the seats.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the same.

Fig. 4 is a view in rear elevation of a seat showing the tableattachment of one of the seat backs in folded position and the tableattachment of the other seat back unfolded and arranged for use as adressing table.

Fig. 5 is a View in side elevation of one of the seat backs and showingthe table attachanent thereof let down for use, a portion of the backand the table attachment appearing in section.

The reference numeral 1 designates a pedestal of suitable constructionwhich is securely fixed to the car floor, and adapted to support theseat structure, whichomay be either fixed to the pedestal or rotatablymounted on the pedestal so that the seat may be turned to face towardthe aisle or toward the Window of the car, as desired.

The seat structure has a frame which includes a seat bottom 2, fixedside arms 3 and backs 4, together with fixed or removable bottomcushions 5 and top or seat cushions 6. Backs 4: are of separate orindependent construction to provide with each set of cushions 5 and 6separate seat sections on opposite sides of the seat. Each back 4 isprovided with a suitable covering 7, preferably deep upholstery, and maybe adjustable independently of the other back, so as to permit eitherback to be adjusted or set at any-reclining angle the passenger electsto make himself comfortable. While seats of the construction hereindisclosed may be used in day coaches, they are especially designed forwhat are known as night chair cars used by passengers who prefer to situp and sleep rather than travel in Pullman cars and lie down and sleep,and the seat construction embodying my invention affords maximum comfortand convenience in such use. The seat back shown is one of a well knowntype used in B. & O. R. R. so-called night coaches, such back beingadjustable to allowthe passenger to sit up straight or to recline in amore or less recumbent posture for restful relaxation or sleepingpurposes. I may, however, apply the folding table to any desired type ofadjustable or reclining seat back.

Each seat may be provided at its rear with foot rests 9 of individualtype, one for each passenger in the seat sections of the seat in rearthereof.

Each seat back 4 is provided therein or thereon at the rear thereof,with a chamber recess or compartment-10 designed to receive a multipleor sectional lid or table 11. This lid or table comprises an outer orrear member or lid proper 12 carrying on its inner face a polishedbright metal table top section comprising a plate having an upstandingflange around its margins and forming a shallow pan-shaped service traor receptacle 13.

. The chamber or recess 0 this tray is adapted to receive a table topsection proper 14 made of wood or metal, or of a composite structure,and having its surface covered with a layer of felt or other suitablematerial 15.

The lid or tray carrying member 12 is hinged at its lower edge, asindicated at 16, to the back 4 at the base of the recess 10 so as toswing into and out of said recess and to lie therein, when the tableattachment is closed or folded, flush with the rear surface of the back4. The outer face of the member 12 may have a covering 15 continuouswith or conforming to the upholstery material of the seat back. Thetable top section 14 is hinged to the member 12 or to the bottom wall ofthe recess 10, as indicated at 17 so that it may swing outwardly fromthe recess 10 independently of the lid and tray section and upwardlyinto the recess 10 therewith, or may be swung upwardly into or arrangedto lie within said recess independently of the lid and tray section andwhile the latter is in open or let down osition. The table top section14 is of a little less length than the tray 13 and of somewhat greaterdepth and so positioned that when disposed in the tray its outer or topedge will be spaced, as at 18 sufficiently from the outer or topmarginal flange of the tray to permit of the thumb or finger of apassenger being inserted to enga e and separate the table top sectionfrom t e tray section and swing said table top section out-of the traysection and into closed position.

Figs. 1, 4 and 5 show the complete table attachment let down or unfoldedfor use, so

as to serve as a writing desk or table, or as a game table or as adressing or toilet table on which to place toilet or dressing articles.By, however, swinging the table top section 14 upwardly into the recess10 independently of the tray or bottom table section, the latter may beleft in let down position to serve as a service table on which to servelunch or other refreshments.

A bolt or latch device 19 is provided to engage and hold the multipletable top in folded position and, in practice, this may be used toseparately engage and hold either the table section 14 or tray section12 in folded position, although, or course, separate and independentmeans for holding the table section 14 is folded position may beemployed, if desire Folding bracket or link arms 20 are pro vided tosupport the table in let down position. These arms are arranged atopposite sides of the table and each arm is pivotally connected at itslower end to the sides of the member 12 or side flanges of the tray 13,and the upper ends of the arms are provided with guide and locking pins21 for engagement with guide slots 22 in keeper plates 23 arranged atthe sides of the recess 10, each keeper plate having one of its slotWalls recessed to provide rack teeth 24 in which the pin 21 isengageable to hold the table at a desired elevation. The table section14 of the table may be folded up independently of the sup porting arms,as will be readily understood, and the pins 21 at the free ends of thearms are movable in the slots 22 to permit the tray section of the tablealone or both the tray and table top sections to be swung from folded tounfolded and from unfolded to folded positions in a ready and convenientmanner. It will be obvious from the foregoing that the adjustableengagement of the locking pins 21 with the keeper recesses or rack teeth24 adapts the table top to be let down to different degrees andsupported at different angles with relation to the seat back 4. Thus thetable on a seat back may be adjusted to a level position for useregardless of the degree of angularity or reclining angle of the back ofthe seat on which it is arranged.

I preferably provide the seat back with a mirror 25 which is hinged atits upper edge to the seat back within the recess so as to be swungoutwardly to a position'for use, as indicated in Fig. 1, or swunginwardly, as indicated in Figs. 4 and5, to lie within the recess and beprotected thereby when not in use and covered and protected by the tabletop section 14 when the table is in folded position. As illustrated inFig. 1, the let down table and swung out mirror will provide a novel andconvenient mirrored dressing table for the convenience of a passenger inperforming various toilet operations.

It will be seen from the foregoing that my.

invention provides a coach seat which, while seating two or morepassengers, gives substantially all the advantages of separate or singleseats, and at the same time permits of a passenger assuming acomfortable attitude for resting and sleeping purposes, and furtherprovides means affording writing, toilet and other conveniences whichcustomarily and generally are not afforded in ordinary day or nightcoaches.

I am aware that changes may be made in the details of constructionwithin the spirit of my invention without departing'from the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim 1. In a seat forpassenger coaches and the like, a seat back having a compartment at therear thereof, a dished service tray hinged to the seat back for swingingmovement into and out of said compartment, a desk top hinged to the seatback for movement into and out of said compartment and adapted when inopen position to lie within the space bounded by the rim of the dishedservice tray, means for supporting the tray and table top in openosition, and means for fastening the same in closed position.

2. A passenger coach seat having a seat back, a folding table carried bythe seat back and comprising a bottom member or tray section hingedthereto for movement to open and closed positions, said bottom memberbeing provided with a marginal flange forming a recess therein, and atable top section hinged to the back for movement to open and closedpositions and adapted in open position to fit within the chamber of thetray. and means for supporting said parts in open and closed positions.

3. A passenger railway car seat or chair having a seat back, a hingedservice table member hinged to the seat back so as to fold upward to aninoperative position parallel with said seat back and to swing downwardto an operative position at an angle to the seat back, said servicetable member having upon its face which is upwardly disposed when inoperative position an upstanding marginal retaining ange to preventdisplacement therefrom of articles being supported thereon, a desk-topmember hinged to the seat back to swing relatively thereto in a similarmanner to the table member and adapted when in let down position to seatupon the service table member in the space bounded by the saidupstanding marginal retaining flange thereof, and means for retainingsaid members in folded and open positions.

at. A passenger railway car seat or chair having a seat back, a hingedservice table member hinged to the seat back so as to fold upward to aninoperative position parallel with said seat back and to swing downwardto an operative position at an angle to the seat back, said servicetable member having uppn its face which is upwardly disposed W en inoperative position an upstanding marginal retaining flange to preventdisplacement therefrom of articles being supported thereon, a desk-topmember hinged to the seat back to swing relatively thereto in a similarmanner to the table member and adapted when in let down position to seatupon the service table member in the space bounded by the saidupstanding marginal retaining flange thereof, the said desk-top memberhaving an edge portion spaced from an opposed portion of the flange whensaid desk top member is seated on the table member to adapt the formerto be engaged by the user to swing said desk top member upward to foldedposition, and means for retaining said members in folded and openpositions.

5. A passenger railway car seat or chair having a seat back providedwith a recess in its rear face, a hinged service table member hinged tothe seat back so as to fold upward to an inoperative position withinsaid recess and parallel with said seat back and to swing downward to anoperativeposition at an angle to the seat back, said service tablemember having upon its face which is upwardly disposed when in operativeposition an upstanding marginalretaining flange to prevent displacementtherefrom of articles being supported thereon, a desk-top memberarranged between the seat back and service table member and hinged tothe seat back to swing relatively thereto into and out of said recess ina simllar manner to the table membar and adapted when in let downposition to seat upon the service table member in the space bounded bthe said upstanding marginal retaining ange thereof, means for securingthe table-top member in folded position, and means for securing theservice table member in folded position and securing it when let down atdifferent angles with respect to the seat back.

6. A passenger railway car seat or chair having a seat back providedwith a recess in its rear face, a hinged service table member hinged tothe seat back so as to fold upward to an inoperative position withinsaid recess and parallel with said seat back and to swing downward to anoperative position at an angle to the seat back, said service tablemember having upon its face which is upwardly disposed when in operativeposition an upstanding marginal retaining fiange to prevent displacementtherefrom of articles being supported thereon, a desk-top memberarranged between the seat back and service table member and hinged tothe seat back to swing relatively thereto into and out of said spacebounded b the said upstanding marginal retaining ange thereof, means forsecurin the table-top member in folded position, racket plates at thesides of the recess in the seat back having longitudinal guide slots andnotches at intervals intersecting the same, and links pivoted at one endto the service table at opposite sides thereof and provided at theiropposite ends with pins for travel in said slots and locking engagementwith said notches in the bracket plates.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN J. TATUM.

